Senator Bernie Moreno Proposes Transportation Freedom Act

In Washington, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, previously an automobile dealer, is set to introduce a new bill aimed at repealing emissions regulations and offering tax incentives to automotive manufacturers.

The Transportation Freedom Act

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) describes the Transportation Freedom Act as legislation that would eliminate expensive electric truck mandates, remove arbitrary emissions waivers from states, and establish a more balanced regulatory framework for the trucking sector.

The bill outlines a strong, pro-American, and pro-worker approach intended to rejuvenate the auto manufacturing industry while ensuring fairness in emissions regulations.

Key Provisions

Support for American Auto Manufacturing

This legislation proposes a 200% tax deduction for U.S. auto workers, promoting job creation domestically and reaffirming the U.S. as a leader in vehicle design, innovation, and manufacturing.

Common-Sense Emissions Standards

• Repeals the EPA’s stringent ‘Tailpipe Rule’ mandating that 67% of new cars must be electric by 2032, independent of consumer needs.
• Removes excessive emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks, thus safeguarding essential supply chains.
• Eliminates outdated CAFE fuel economy standards that do not reflect consumer preferences.
• Provides a 180-day timeframe for replacing current standards with more realistic and attainable ones that consider market-available technology.

Unified National Standards

The act aims to prevent states like California from controlling national emissions regulations, ensuring that all Americans have a voice in transportation policies. It also revokes California’s zero-emission vehicle requirements.

Ensuring Regulatory Predictability

The legislation stipulates consistent emissions and fuel economy standards from 2027 to 2035, offering a decade-long roadmap for manufacturers and ensuring regulations align with market realities.

Support from the Trucking Industry

The ATA strongly backs the bill, noting it includes essential provisions like the repeal of the Phase 3 greenhouse gas standards and limits California’s influence on nationwide emissions policy. These measures aim to create achievable, technology-neutral regulations while ensuring supply chain stability.

Trucking Industry Advancements

Modern trucks emit 99% less nitrogen oxide and particulate matter than those from past decades, with new models reducing carbon emissions by over 40% compared to 2010 models. As noted, today’s trucks collectively emit the same amount of pollution as one truck from 1988.

While the trucking sector previously supported EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations, the Phase 3 rule has deviated from this successful collaboration by imposing unrealistic electric truck adoption rates, complicating the industry’s path to compliance.

For further details, a summary of the Transportation Freedom Act and the full text of the bill can be accessed online.